Benromach 35 year old

Benromach sent WhiskySpeller a sample of the latest release so Thomas and I could have a closer look at it and make a note. This release is an 35 year old bottling at 43% and matured in first fill sherry casks. Here a little bit on what they have to say about it:

The Benromach Distillery Company Ltd. today reveals one of their rarest expressions to date, Benromach 35 Years Old, an exclusive whisky crafted at the distillery before the Urquhart family, owners of leading whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail, revived it in 1998. Handcrafted using the finest natural ingredients at the Forres distillery, Benromach 35 Years Old is an exceptional whisky with real heritage and an original tale or two, having been laid down to mature in the 1980’s. 


This rare whisky, dating back to a time before Benromach was restored in the ‘90s, exudes the heritage of the Speyside distillery. Created under the watchful eye of Donald MacDonald, former Distillery Manager, the casks this whisky was matured in have long been a part of the Benromach history. Willie McArthur, former malt man and warehouseman, was one of the workers responsible for protecting the precious casks remaining in the bonded warehouses.

Lets have a closer look at it... 

On the nose loads of marzipan, red apple, fudge, tobacco, dates and some honey sweetness mixed with soft dirty leather and old books. It is a bit hold back and bit "thin" on one side but also creamy... Takes a good while to open up more layers and flavours. Getting some syrupy flavours that remind me of elder flower blossom syrup, but also dark forrest fruits, blackcurrant, just unripe red berries, gooseberry sourness, fresh orange juice, lime, cassis, mashed tropical summer fruit, mango creaminess, kiwi and light note of rose hip. 

Palate, well, fruity sweet and creamy must say at first taste. With vanilla, rum soaked raisins, dried apricots, figs, red apple, almonds and zeeuwse bolus (rolled sweet bun with sugar and cinnamon). Makes me think of a coffee cake with some dried fruits in it and thick cream on top. Some mocha, sweet baking spices and creamy vanilla pudding. After a bit, just like on the nose I get red and dark forrest fruits. But also soft creamy honey sweetness and some flowery notes of clover flower, dandelion, violets and roses. The good length finish reminds me a rice pie (rijstevlaai) a bit together with loads of cassis, mocha and marzipan. Both palate and nose need time to open up, the depth of the whisky is not instantly visible. Scoring it an 8 out of 10. Thanks for sharing it with us Benromach! 



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